Paula Creamer returns home for LPGA event

Popular Paula Creamer, aka the "Pink Panther," who lived in Pleasanton until she was 14, has been getting bombarded with ticket requests in advance of the LPGA's return to the Bay Area.

The inaugural Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic will run from Thursday through Sunday at Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City.

"Yeah, I feel bad for the tournament office," said Creamer, now a Windermere, Fla. resident, at a Wednesday press event. "They have had to deal with me and my family. My dad (Paul) has been in there the last couple days 10 times dealing with tickets and this and that."

Creamer earned her 10th career title last month in Singapore when she drained a 75-foot eagle putt on the second playoff hole.

She was a regular participant at the now-defunct LPGA event at Blackhawk Country Club.

"I always used to put such an enormous amount of pressure (on herself) when I came home," she said. "For me right now, I feel like I'm in a great place. I really love this golf course a lot. I liked Blackhawk, but it didn't fit my eye quite as well as this place does."

She described Lake Merced as a "golfer's paradise, where you have to use every club in the bag.

"I just feel really good when I walked out here," she said. "Having my family being able to come out and support, I think it's going to be great."

Creamer enjoyed a special moment on Tuesday when her first golf coach, Larry O'Leary, a longtime instructor who works at The Pleasanton Golf Center, came out and met her current coach David Whelan, an IMG Academy instructor.

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"It's just pretty cool to be able to come home and have that," Creamer said. "Not a lot of people can do that, can have that experience."